T-fan shows yet another Roman Catholic inconsistency. On the one hand, Roman Catholics and modern Romanist apologists have gone after Luther for adding the word “alone” in Romans 3:28, 5:15. Justification by faith alone was one of the dividing lines of the Reformation. i) However, a number of pre-reformation translations of Gal. 2:16, Romans 3:28 included ‘alone’, so Luther wasn’t deviating (Roman Catholic Fitzmeyer notes that eight men from Origen to Thomas Aquinas did so in 3:28). Now some are quick to call Fitzmeyer a liberal. But this was written by Joseph Ratzinger, or Pope Benedict – XVI: "And he adds "we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (ibid., v. 28). At this point Luther translated: "justified by faith alone". I shall return to this point at the end of the Catechesis. ... [at the end of the Catechesis] For this reason Luther's phrase: "faith alone" is true, if it is not opposed to faith in charity, in love." Now, the Vatican isn’t repudiating Trent, which said that “If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema." But they have found a way to affirm Luther’s words while meaning the opposite. We Have Apostolic Tradition - The Unofficial Catholic Apologist Commentary #10
Bayly notes the hypocrisy of courts, which will intervene in health issues to order a child to undergo cancer treatment against the parent’s will (quote “Medical ethicists say parents generally have a legal right to make decisions for their children, but there is a limit.”) and yet will do nothing to protect the lives of those who cannot make a choice [i.e. aborted babies] and yet whose parents act in way that endanger the ‘well-being’ of the children. Court asserts itself over private lives of citizens
“The folks at Westminster Bookstore have helped set up a remarkable website with serious reflections on the kinds of scientific and religious questions raised by the Dan Brown blockbuster Angels and Demons.” Wisdom About Angels and Demons
Trueman agrees, reading Anatomy of Explosion… by Karl Marquadt, that “the only way to bring about reformation of ecclesiastical institutions is, humanly speaking, not grandstanding at megaconferences of the faithful but rather the boring, incremental, thankless and unglamorous work of attending tedious administrative meetings, speaking up for the umpteenth time on a point of order, fighting elections, being very unpopular, working harder than the opposition, having your name trodden on by Uncle Tom Cobley and all, and being consistent in fighting for the whole counsel of God, not just the bits that address the most distasteful and trendy aspects of contemporary life. Nothing new under the sun (Carl Trueman)
Payne points out that in our individualistic, make-your-own-identity post-modern world, the categories of Generation X and Y have all the explanatory power as astrology (people just group themselves into cultures/sub-cultures… these categories seem to be just a vacuous attempt to find some manner of coherence). Gen Blank
Genderblog points to this chilling pro-abortion statement by Rev. Katherine Ragsdale: "Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done." She repetitiously inciting her disciples to be not just pro-choice but fanatically pro-abortion – whereas we’re normally told that pro-choice folks don’t like abortion and they’re just trying to help a woman facing tragedy! More duplicity… The ‘blessing’ of abortion- Katherine Ragsdale and the worship of “me, me, me”
Here’s a woman’s perspective on woman in the church. She affirms this: “Men are to be the head of the home. Wives are to submit to their husbands. (Eph. 5: 22-24). Men are to be the head of the church. Only men can become elders and deacons. Women are not allowed to teach or have authority over men. (I Tim. 2: 11-12).” She compares women looking at this as ‘bondage’ like people looking at the Sabbath as ‘bondage’ – it’s backwards. As to whether women are restricted, men are just as restricted – Men are not allowed to NOT be head of home and church. But did women get the inferior role? Culture does tell us that self-assertion and being in charge is the ‘superior’ position to have. But the Gospel exalts Christ, “who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” Submissiveness does not imply inferiority. As to giftedness, God often chooses the weak to shame the wise. As to a woman’s gifts being limited, she never feels this way – more swamped! She derives her affirmation from God. She finds the statement “A woman can do anything an unordained man can do?” insulting since it presupposes rank and superiority. Instead of setting aside women as distinct and unique in their role, it lumps them into an implicitly inferior category. [how remarkable it is that so many in the churches think just like the world on these matters, regarding individualism and self-realization!] An older woman teaching younger women, just as Scripture commands
Adams points to Jesus’ illustration of the Pharisee and the Publican, and wonders how much prayer is effectively ‘junk mail’ to God – like the Pharisee whose prayer was like a balloon that got stuck on the ceiling, as it merely exalted himself. Junk Mail
Hays responds yet again to Clark’s (Scripturalism) critique of empiricism (who conflates sense-knowledge with tabula rasa empiricism). i) belief in sense-knowledge doesn’t commit you to empiricism. One doesn’t have to believe the senses are the source of all knowledge to believe the senses are the source of some knowledge. ii) One of the standard theistic proofs treats what is contingent as evidence for the need of something that is not contingent to ground it. So it’s hardly a problem for belief in God. iii) For a Scripturalist to raise extrascriptural objections to sense-knowledge would be self-defeating, yet they keep doing it. iv) Should we conclude that because mountains look smaller from a distance that the mountain has no objective height that can be known? Ditto with colour, which can appear differently in various conditions, yet the composition of the surface will reflect or absorb certain wavelengths of the visible spectrum. v) Why can’t one form an abstract concept on the basis of enumerative induction. There’s a difference between an abstract concept and an abstract universal. vi) Commenting on the image of God, Hays notes it is a finite manifestation of God’s dominion. Man is God’s representative or vice-regent on earth. The exercise of dominion is something he shares in common with his Maker. A corporeal image can represent a non-corporeal entity. In Hebrew usage, man doesn’t have a soul. Man is a soul. Empiricism
MacArthur has some advice for parents in evangelizing their children. “Scripture indicates that children tend to be immature (1 Cor. 13:11; 14:20), naive (Prov. 1:4), foolish (Prov. 22:15), capricious (Isaiah 3:4), inconsistent and fickle (Matt. 11:16–17), and unstable and easily deceived (Eph. 4:14).” i) Don’t oversimplify the Gospel. Children must understand, like adults, concepts such as good and evil, sin and punishment, repentance and faith, God’s holiness and wrath against sin, the deity of Christ and His atonement for sin, and the resurrection and lordship of Christ. ii) Don’t coerce a profession. There is no need to pressure children. iii) Don’t assume the reality of regeneration based on a mere profession of faith. Look for tested convictions and beliefs. iv) Don’t assure the child of salvation (as in, since they asked Jesus into their heart, etc. they should never to examine themselves and never to entertain any doubt about their salvation). This is the role of the Holy Spirit. Don’t fill the church with those who are devoid of a real love for Christ. v) Don’t rush into baptism. Grace Community Church waits for twelve years old. “, in the case of an unregenerate child who is baptized—which is not uncommon in the church at large—baptism actually does him a disservice.” Evangelizing Children (Part 1)
Turk reminds us that we should follow Paul’s instructions before we begin to look for loopholes in our own lives (e.g. since Paul + Timothy were single, de facto objecting to the requirement of being a husband…) You need to be a little more informed about the world that God made than just have a bookish knowledge of how the family works in order to be an elder/pastor. Live the faith before theorizing. “if your family is not in order, you should get out of the ministry. You are not qualified.” Paul goes farther than we are comfortable in saying that if one’s kids "open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination", he is not qualified. (btw, unless you’ve had a Damascus road experience, abiding by the normative standards of Scripture seems prudent). In a culture like the Cretan culture (that is, like our culture), the church needs more than a good feeling about somebody. Paul told fathers not to provoke their children, and he sees the role of elders to be fathers in the faith in the same way they are fathers in the family, so those who have demonstrated the key attribute of pastoral ministry in the family ought to be doing it in teaching others. “the pastorate/eldership is not for guys who are still working out their issues.” In God’s economy, the family is where you men are tested, and if qualified they go to the church (usually we view the family as more precious than assembled believers). His Children [1]
“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren.” Romans 9:3Concern for the salvation of others is not prevented by a belief in what we call the doctrines of grace; is not prevented by believing in divine sovereignty, and predestination and election. Paul demonstrated this in this very passage by speaking of God’s purpose in election. Don’t fall into the trap of indifference to the salvation of others. Intense Concern for the Salvation of Others
T-fan points to a shrew with teeth capable of injecting venom, noting the high improbability of two species (shrew and snake) coming to have the same feature, and the faith evolutionists must have to accept this. He gives a flow chart for neo-Darwinian naturalism: 1. Hypothesize that everything is the result of natural selection and random (sometimes beneficial) mutations. 2. Attempt to arrange species data using nesting to meet hypothesis. 3. If nesting cannot fit all the species data, allege parallel evolution of species. 4. Claim victory despite the vast statistical improbability of beneficial mutations happening in different species in parallel. 5. If necessary, sprinkle in the pixie dust of vast periods of time to explain away the inconceivably unlikely event you are alleging occurred. 6. Insist that any explanation that invokes the supernatural is just filling gaps, superstitious, or religion interfering with science. Another Broken Link in the Darwinian Chain
Genderblog notes the attempted redefinition of fatherhood by the director of a homosexual rights group, who was appointed by President Obama to the 25-member President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. i) Homosexual attempts at fatherhood lie about God. They previously had "exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator..." (Romans 1:25). ii) Such attempts are in the dark: They became "futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21). This darkness is never satisfied, and society should be unsurprised by an increase in "all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness and malice" (Romans 1:28-31). Heteronormative Fatherhood- Is there any other Kind-
Challies summarizes Piper’s message on new birth from the Refocus conference. How does the new birth happen? In four steps (which must happen simultaneously): First, the Holy Spirit freely gives life. There is no how-to here at all; he must sovereignly do this. Second, this happens through the living and abiding Word of God. We see here the human agency of the divine sovereign awakening of dead souls. Third, the gospel brings about faith. Believing is the result, not the cause of the new birth. Fourth, Christ is received and believed upon. How do you participate? You can’t bring the new birth. But you can’t make electricity do its thing, yet you still flick on a light switch. So too, preach the Gospel. “The pastors' task is an impossible one and thus one that must be empowered by God.” reFocus Conference (III)
Grimmond comments on the change in a Wesleyan hymn from “Jesus, the name that charmes [i.e. bewitch, delight, appease] our fears” to “Jesus, the name that calms our fears ...” to make it more relevant. Now, in a superstitious culture full of people held captive by witchcraft and spiritual falsehood, charm says something that calm does not: Jesus is the power that truly deals with our fears. Your superstitious rituals do not. Did the person who changed this know what they were losing and gaining? It’s a huge chagne in meaning. The odds of us thinking of spiritual forces when we hear ‘calm’ are next to nil. Now, what if we were talking about the Bible? This is why church planters ought to be theologically trained. Wesley, charms and church planting
Bayly posts something on the importance of both a father and mother in raising a daughter, and the importance of the father’s treatment of his wife. i) When daughters see their dad loving their mom sacrificially (as Christ loves the church), then she will not be satisfied with anything less than this for herself. ii) Teach daughters how to run a home from a very young age. Raising daughters, part II- The father's love, endless talk, conjugal bliss, and work
DeYoung posts an excerpt from a sermon on Leviticus 17 (the holiness code). What does God require of sex and the family? God prohibits incest, taking a rival wife, and whatever makes you unclean: like homosexuality (which is where most people throw the book down). Menstruation doesn’t make a woman unclean anymore because the whole system of ritual uncleanness has been fulfilled and done away with in Christ. Cleanness still exists in the NT, but it’s a moral category now instead of a ritual one. But blood loss no longer makes one unclean. “the abiding principle here is that whatever sexual activity makes you unclean is unfit for God’s people.” God prohibits adultery. Adultery made you unclean because it was wrong. God prohibits killing our children. “Molech was a pagan god and there is archeological evidence showing that people sometimes had their children pass through fire as a sacrifice to Molech.” These rules are designed by God to protect the family. A Sermon on Leviticus 18-1-30 (Part 1)
Ascol writes: “What is the relationship between the recent call for a Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) and the vote this week by International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention to scale back missionary appointments for this year? Just this: both make the case that Southern Baptist churches desperately need to reexamine and retool their priorities and the latter heightens the importance of the former.” Mere commitment to the Bible isn’t enough. One must live in light of the truth that it is God’s inerrant word. Ascol calls on the SBC to re-examine the way it does things and seek the health of loval church and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Apparently “… there is not enough money to appoint all of those who are willing, equipped and ready to be sent by their churches. Can we sit back and let this happen?” IMB cuts and the GCR call
Turk highlights that according to Paul being an elder in the church, responsible for the doctrine people believe and the lives that they live, is a brutal task. ”… for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.” What Paul doesn’t tell Timothy, in his dying letter, is “hey dude, pace yourself. Don’t make people too angry. There’s real freedom in grace, but if you go too far, you’ll learn that there’s real freedom in unemployment or martyrdom, if you see what I’m sayin’.” Rather, Paul tells Timothy to follow him, and that there must be adversity because the church and the world are full of people who hate the Gospel. Yet there are those who co-miserate over pastoral burn-out, glorifying in it and making their bitterness over it a badge of honour. the brutal task
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